Evacuation order issued for Maple Ridge homeless camp that saw 3 fires in one week

An evacuation order has been issued for the controversial Maple Ridge homeless camp that has been the site of three fires since Thursday.

The provincial fire commissioner issued the order late Friday afternoon as “a result of the existence of fire hazards and the risk of explosion [and] an imminent and serious danger to life and property if persons are permitted to occupy,” according to the City of Maple Ridge,

The order said that “all fire hazards, including flammable liquid and flammable compressed gas containers [must] be removed from the property,” and had the fire commissioner calling upon the “assistance of police and local fire prevention authorities.”

“People are not going to freeze to death, they’re going to find ways to keep warm,” said Dave Diewart with the Alliance Against Displacement.

“The real solution to this is housing. They’ve just built a bunch of rental housing across the street. We’re asking BC housing to buy that rental housing and provide it for people who are living in the camp and others who are homeless.”

WATCH: Fire at controversial Maple Ridge tent city

Lawyers for the campers are seeking a stay in the injunction enforcement order until the issue can be brought back to court, and say in the meantime, the city should at least provide — or not deny — heat sources to campers.

However, neighbours are growing increasingly frustrated with the camp site.